Jazz Tap Legend Buster Brown Centennial Celebration

As we approach the great Savoy dancer Frankie Manning’s 99th Birthday this weekend on May 26th, I was pleasantly reminded about the recent centennial celebration for another superb dancer – Buster Brown!  Frankie was the King of Lindy Hop and Buster was the Majestic Monarch of Jazz Tap, both true transcendent American art forms in their own right.  I was honored and flattered to be invited to speak at the Buster Brown Centennial Celebration here in New York City produced by Buster protege Michela Marion Lehrman, who runs the wildly weekly Tap Jam Session at Small’s Jazz Club.  Michela was first introduced to me by Buster himself when she was a young up and coming teenage talent in the tap world.  “Michela is going places, you watch out for her!,” exclaimed Buster and Buster always spoke the truth.  She organized a true heartfelt weekend of loving tribute to Buster.

My connection to all these festivities is my humble involvement of starting “Buster Brown’s Crazy Tap Jam” at Swing46 Jazz & Supper Club back in 1997.  As the club’s musical director at that time, we were looking to fill an early Sunday evening time slot with something different, but still well-rooted in swing tradition.  Having met Dr. Buster Brown (him with an honorary Ph.D from Oklahoma City University) and the privilege of musically accompanying him on several occasions, his old skool character and personality was the ONLY choice to host and develop the Swing46 Tap Jam.  He handled the challenge with gusto and the event became world renown and had a long and healthy run on Sunday evenings at Swing46.  Celebrity jazz tappers were regularly in attendance (Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Stumpy Cromer, Jimmy Slyde, Sandman Sims, The Nicholas Brothers,among the many) and Buster was always the gracious host – with his welcoming arms to tap enthusiasts  and music lovers of ALL levels!

It seemed appropriate that the grand finale was back at SWING46 last night with the reunion of “Buster Brown’s Crazy Tap Jam.”  The tap electricity was static in the club’s atmosphere and the Buster love was evident in every corner of the room.  Buster has been gone for over a decade, but his spirit and memories are as strong as they ever were – maybe even stronger.  As much as I always feel honored to have a personal and professional relationship with the great dance icon Frankie Manning, it occurs to me that being part of Buster Brown’s elite inner circle is an equal distinction that I shall always treasure as  a badge of honor.

Big Band swing music makes you happy.  Lindy Hop makes you happy.  And so does Jazz Tap! Happy 100th Birthday, Sir Dr. Buster Brown!

George Gee Pays Tribute to Benny Goodman with clarinetist Dan Levinson

George Gee with clarinetists Peter Anderson, Dan Levinson & William Anderson

Next to Count Basie, perhaps my favorite all-time swing era bandleader would have to be Benny Goodman.  Like many successful big bandleaders, Benny knew how get the most out of his musicians and understood the importance of the way the musical arrangements evoked a feel and mood.  And bottom line is that he knew how to SWING and get the rhythm red hot.  The way Gene Krupa banged away on the skins and Teddy Wilson delicately chomped away at the chords made the rhythm section feel whole, along with sometimes quartet member Lionel Hampton on the vibes.  Benny was color blind and went against then then standard of keeping musicians segregated – SWING was multi-colored and walked the walk and talked the talk.  In some circles, controversy was instilled by suggesting that he didn’t properly credited popular Savoy tunesmiths and arrangers the likes Edgar Sampson and Fletcher Henderson.  That couldn’t be farther from the truth, in my humble opinion.  Without Benny’s faith and support, the recognition of those great writers and arrangers wouldn’t be forever engraved in the annals of swing history.  And perhaps that is all we want in our musical careers – for our legacy to live in posterity.

This past weekend, in our continuing pursuit of progressing the great American art form of the Big Band – Big Band First Friday at NYC’s Dance Manhattan Studios was once again a raving success!  Adding to the festivities was our Tribute to The King of Swing – Mr. Benny Goodman – with Dan Levinson handling all the clarinet solos in his usual expert fashion.  Dan is well-renown for his clarinet handiwork and scholarly knowledge of all things Benny.  He is also a longtime member of the ever popular 1920s jazz orchestra of Vince Giordano (and his Nighthawks).  Years in the making, Dan and the band finally collaborated on an event attended by nearly 200 lindy hoppers in the spacious ballroom of Dance Manhattan.  From the opening jump theme of “Lets Dance” to the melancholy closer of “Good Bye” – the spirit and music of Benny Goodman was intensely permeating the air and more importantly, on the dance floor.  Dan and I were pleasantly surprised the number of BG transcriptions we had available for the show:  “King Porter Stomp,” “Jersey Bounce,” “Crazy Rhythm,” “Madhouse, “Stompin’ at the Savoy,” “If Dreams Come True,” “Stealin’ Apples,” and of course, the legendary “Sing Sing Sing!”  And how about the small groups:  “After You’ve Gone,” China Boy,” and my personal request of “Moonglow” – I even snuck a dance with NYC swinger Elaine Silver on that one!  And to top things off, fellow clarinet specialists The Anderson Twins (William and Peter) joined Dan on a three clarinet feature from the “Three Benny Opera!”

Doing justice to the music of The King of Swing has always been a lifelong dream – Dan and the Gee Swing Orchestra are contemplating further combination projects in our efforts to pay tribute to The King.  Stay tuned, this sure feels like a work in progress…..

Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing Fills in the Missing Piece of the “Battle of the Big Bands” Puzzle!

Kudos to Lincoln Center and Midsummer Night Swing for sponsoring the MAIN EVENT of The Battle of The Big Bands  among LA’s Mora’s Modern Rhythmists and NYC hometown favorite – The George Gee Swing Orchestra!  This featured swing lindy hop event will be one of the highlights of their 25th Anniversary season celebration of outdoor dance parties.  Mark your calendars for the 4th of July, as fireworks are certain to go sky high over the stage as these two swing big band veterans will “Swing like a butterfly and Jive like a bee!”

George and the band are no strangers to the Big Band Battle format on this glorious world-class stage, with multiple confrontations under their belt.  Starting with the initial match up at the 1998 Midsummer Night Swing season up against Benny Goodman disciple Loren Schoenberg, then the classic 2007 Basie/Ellington theme versus Dave Berger and the Sultans of Swing and most recently in 2010 – when ultra popular modern swing era celebrity Bill Elliot and GG recreated their 1999 Hollywood Palladium memorable big band swing spectacular!

So, now the puzzle is complete, the big picture is clear:  A week long series of “Battles” between these two big band behemoths starting in Los Angeles on June 29th, chugging along to NYC on the July 4th holiday and then culminating with the finale in Washington DC on July 6th!  Proving that SWING, LINDY HOP and BIG BANDS are as strong as ever.

Look under “EPIC” in Webster’s dictionary and you just may see Dean and George’s mug shots!  And, as usual, who will the winners?  Why, the dancers and music lovers, of course!

George Gee vs. Dean Mora “Big Band Battle” Finale in DC on July 6

Before “Battles” at Lincoln Center Midsummer Night Swing (Loren Scheonberg, David Berger, Bill Elliot), before Jazzmobile‘s Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival (Harlem Renaissance Orchestra), before Zurich Arts Festival (Basie Band), before the immediate post-9/11 stop in Cleveland (vs. Ernie Krivda) – there was the first and original “Battle of The Big Bands” of the modern swing era!  And that well-deserved honor goes to GottaSwing Productions of Washington DC with an epic confrontation versus local favorite The Tom Cunningham Orchestra (read about Tom’s thought and memories of that night here) at the then-newly renovated Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, Maryland in 1998.  That was quite an awesome event and really proved the point that when you bring together so many quality musicians, pride and camaraderie takes over and the only winners are the DANCERS (and music lovers)!

And now we return to the well-worn dance floor of the famous Spanish Ballroom on Saturday, July 6th with the finale stop of the “George Gee vs. Dean Mora” tour,  once again sponsored by GottaSwing.  And what’s a better way to conclude this week long series of “Big Band Battles” (starting a week earlier on June 29th in Los Angeles) by returning to the stage where it all started back 15 years ago!!?  More information and details at the Facebook event page, it shall be part of the EPIC-ness!

LA on June 29th and DC on July 6th, can a NYC stop sometime in-between be a possibility?  Only time will tell…..

The Big Band Sound is the TRUE Lindy Hop Dance Music

I may be a little biased, but I have always been a cheerleader for the Big Band sound, especially for swing dancing.  It harkens back to the heydays of such storied ballroom as Harlem’s Savoy, when top-rated swing dance orchestras held court at jam packed dance floors.  Count Basie. Chick Webb. Benny Goodman.  Lionel Hampton.  Fletcher Henderson.  Charlie Barnet.  Just some of The Kings of Swing, all leaders of the classic Big Band instrumentation  (five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, bass, piano, drums and guitar), which provided the hot pulsating rhythms that all genuine linty hoppers craved and desired as inspiration for their happy feet.  Yes, t’s true you can swing dance to almost any kind of syncopated rhythm, but lest not forget and truly acknowledge that the Big Band sound is the TRUE and ORIGINAL lindy hop dance music!  Yes, it is true, I may be a little biased…..

Which leads me to happily declare that BIG BAND FIRST FRIDAYS at Dance Manhattan Studios is a genuine big success!  Since its inception on First Friday of January this year, the jubilant collaboration of the 17pc. George Gee Swing Orchestra and a roomful of gyrating lindy hoppers have been the norm, rather than the exception.  Averaging 175-200+ music lovers each month, the series is picking up even more steam with the next installment on May 3rd with a tribute to the King of Swing.   Handling the swinging’ hot seat with great gusto will be clarinetist Dan Levinson, a true disciple of the Benny Goodman swing style.  Anticipate swinging’ versions of “Stompin’ at the Savoy,” “Don’t Be That Way.” “King Porter Stomp,” “Jersey Bounce,” and , of course, the legendary swing anthem: “Sing Sing Sing!”

This is a true validation of the classic love for the Big Band sound and so happy to have found a steady monthly showcase for the full 17pc. Big Band Swing Orchestra in an ideal ballroom situation, with a spacious dance floor and dance studio quality dance floor.  Thank you Dance Manhattan for their sponsorship and THANK YOU Big Band music lovers!

Every Month, Big Band First Fridays at Dance Manhattan Studios in New York City with the 17pc. George Gee Swing Orchestra!

Swing Visit to Denver, Colorado Planned for the First Weekend of August

During the first weekend of August, The George Gee Orchestra will be making a trek towards the Rocky  Mountains to participate in Lindy on the Rocks in Denver, Colorado. Sponsored by Community-Minded Dance, they are celebrating their ninth anniversary of bringing world class instructors, workshops and swing music to Denver.  Excited to make their debut in Colorado, George and the band, along with singer John Dokes – will be performing on Friday, August 2nd at the Denver Turnverein and then the big fundraiser party at the classic Seawall Ballroom on Saturday, August 3rd.  George fondly remembers the last time they were in Denver was back in 1999, when the band was en route to The Hollywood Palladium to encounter LA bandleader Bill Elliot in their classic “Battle of the Big Bands.” (Do you know about the next “Battle?”) While approaching the Rocky Mountains, the airplane cabin filled with smoke and made an emergency dive/landing to Denver International Airport.  Five minutes after we landed and firemen entered the plane, the sunny skies opened up with an unusual storm of softball-sized hail  Later on, we understood more the seriousness of the situation, when the crew explained that not only was the unexplained smoke a major concern, but we were also heading towards an area over the mountains where an expedited landing would’ve been impossible AND also needed to put plane down safely before the sudden weather upheaval.  Thank goodness alls well that ends well!  We never made it out of the airport to visit the Mile High City, but did make it safely to do battle in Southern California the next day.  Here’s to an uneventful return to Denver and this time to leave the boundaries of the airfield to make sweet (HOT) music!